Flipping can be very effective in some areas at certain times of the year, and can reveal some truly rare and fascinating herps. Many reptiles and amphibians commonly take shelter under rocks, logs, boards, tin, and basically anything else that provides cover. A herper carefully lifts these objects in search of hiding herps. In certain areas a snake or lizard will be under almost every single rock you flip!
Successful flipping is very dependent upon temperature and moisture. If it is too hot or too cold or dry or too wet, reptiles and amphibians move underground and will not be found under surface cover. Moderate temperatures and moist conditions are usually the best conditions for flipping. This is why flipping is often most successful in the spring and fall.
In order for a piece of cover to be effective it must be laying flat on the ground and have space for a critter to crawl under it. Most of the time it must hold moisture underneath, but occasionally you can flip something on top of completely dry soil. You must be very careful when flipping never to stick your hand underneath, where there are often rattlesnakes, copperheads, ants, spiders, scorpions and centipedes, all of which could deliver a painful bite. Usually rocks and logs can safely be rolled over from the side, however, a useful tool for flipping boards and tin is a snake hook.
Always make sure to replace the cover you flip exactly how you found it before in order to not disturb the habitat, and ensure that it will be productive in the future. The rock or board needs to set in place for a long time in order to offer sufficient cover, so always take great care to return it to its original position to preserve the moisture seal as much as possible.
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